GoM finalises Telangana blueprint

The Centre is close to finalising the Telangana bill that is likely to propose giving the new state control over to the police in Hyderabad, but empower the governor to intervene in special circumstances as well.

The Centre is close to finalising the Telangana bill that is likely to propose giving the new state control over to the police in Hyderabad, but empower the governor to intervene in special circumstances as well.

The Group of Ministers (GoM), set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, finalised its report at a four-hour long meeting chaired by home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Wednesday.

A senior government source said they were trying to bring the bill before the Union cabinet as soon as possible. Sonia Gandhi is keen that the bill reaches Parliament during the forthcoming winter session. In this context, the Centre intends to ask Rashtrapati Bhavan to give the state assembly 10-15 days to give its opinion.

Sources suggested the GoM appeared to have resolved differences on control over Hyderabad police by incorporating a provision that gives the governor special powers to intervene as long as Hyderabad remains the shared capital. On other contentious issues, the overwhelming view is to create mechanisms so that the two states could reach an amicable solution.